Tuesday, August 31, 2010

GOV. RITTER APPOINTS THREE NEW JUDGES


 
Gov. Bill Ritter announced today he has appointed three new judges – two district court judges in the 4th Judicial District and one county court judge in Douglas County:
 

·         Lawrence R. Bowling of Castle Rock will replace retiring Douglas County Judge Michelle Marker effective Jan. 1.

 

·         Timothy J. Schutz of Monument will replace retiring District Court Judge J. Patrick Kelly in the 4thJudicial District effective Oct. 31.

 

·         Barbara L. Hughes of Colorado Springs will replace retiring District Court Judge Timothy Simmons in the 4th Judicial District effective Dec. 31. The 4th Judicial District serves El Paso and Teller counties.

 
Bowling is currently a magistrate in Douglas County and has served as a magistrate in the 18th Judicial District – which covers Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties – since 2006. Prior to that, he was an assistant county attorney in Jefferson County, an associate with Quade, Fontana and Bonin, and a deputy district attorney in the 18th Judicial District. He earned his bachelor's degree from Colorado Technical College in 1981 and his law degree from the University of Denver in 1993.
 
Schutz is a founding member of the firm Hanes & Schutz, which was formed in 1992. Before that, he was an associate with Holland & Hart. He received his bachelor's degree from Moorhead State University in 1984 and his law degree from the University of North Dakota in 1987.
 
Hughes has served as a district court magistrate in the 4th Judicial District's Probate Division since 2000. Prior to that, she was an attorney with Colorado Legal Services in Colorado Springs, an attorney with Pikes Peak Legal Services in Colorado Springs, a law clerk in the 4th Judicial District and an attorney with Zuckerman and Kleinman. She earned her bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1980 and her law degree from the University of Colorado in 1988.
 

For a county court judge, the initial term of office is a provisional term of two years. Thereafter, if retained by the voters, county court judges serve four-year terms at an annual salary of $123,067.

 

For a district court judge, the initial term of office is a provisional term of two years. Thereafter, if retained by the voters, district court judges serve six-year terms at an annual salary of $128,598.